The Kenya Health and Wellness Survey 2025, conducted by Kenya Polls, reveals crucial insights into the state of health, stress, and access to healthcare in the country. The findings highlight both progress and challenges that Kenyans face when it comes to staying healthy in an increasingly demanding environment.
This article breaks down the key survey findings, explores healthcare challenges in Kenya, and outlines what needs to change to build a healthier nation.
How Healthy Are Kenyans Today?
The survey asked participants to rate their overall health. Results showed:
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Excellent: 23.5%
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Good: 41.2%
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Fair: 29.1%
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Poor: 5.9%
This means nearly two-thirds of Kenyans feel healthy (excellent or good), but close to one in three rated their health as only fair or poor. These figures underscore the importance of improving preventive healthcare in Kenya and ensuring access to wellness services.
Mental Health in Kenya: Stress on the Rise
One of the most concerning findings was the level of stress:
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Very High Stress: 23.5%
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Moderate Stress: 35.3%
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Low Stress: 23.5%
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Minimal Stress: 17.6%
Overall, 59% of Kenyans reported moderate to very high stress levels in the past six months. This points to a growing mental health crisis in Kenya, fuelled by economic challenges, fast-paced urban living, and limited mental health support systems.
Top Healthcare Challenges in Kenya
When asked what area of healthcare should be improved, Kenyans identified three urgent priorities:
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Health Insurance Coverage – 35%
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Affordability of Treatment – 29%
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Mental Health Support – 24%
Interestingly, access to doctors and hospitals was not ranked a priority (0%), suggesting that financial barriers are the bigger issue. This reflects the struggle many Kenyans face with high out-of-pocket medical costs despite the availability of facilities.
Urban vs. Rural Healthcare in Kenya
The survey was dominated by respondents from urban areas:
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Nairobi – 52.9%
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Nyeri – 29.4%
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Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, and Meru – 5.9% each
This heavy urban participation raises questions about rural healthcare access in Kenya. It suggests that while urban dwellers are more visible in surveys, rural communities may face different, often harsher realities—especially around medicine availability and medical staffing.
Why These Findings Matter
The Kenya Health and Wellness Survey 2025 underscores the urgent need to:
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Expand affordable health insurance in Kenya
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Reduce the cost of medical treatment
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Strengthen mental health services and awareness
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Bridge the urban-rural healthcare divide
Without addressing these gaps, Kenya’s progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) will remain uneven, leaving millions exposed to health and financial risks.
Finally, kenyans may largely report good health, but beneath the surface lies a troubling mix of rising stress levels, unaffordable healthcare, and unmet mental health needs. Tackling these issues will require strong government policy, collaboration with healthcare providers, and increased investment in mental health and insurance schemes.
If Kenya can act on these insights, the country will be better positioned to deliver healthcare that is accessible, affordable, and equitable, ensuring a healthier future for all. READ THE FULL REPORT HERE